Jake Lindsey Just Wants to Prove that He Belongs in the Upper Echelon | MMAWeekly.com

Since leaving the UFC in early 2015, lightweight Jake Lindsey has won two of three fights, and feels he’s at the best point he’s been at career-wise right now.

The biggest reason for Lindsey’s optimism is a change in his mindset. No longer focusing on winning or losing, Lindsey is focused on strong performances, and it’s been extremely freeing for him.

“Coming off the UFC, you start worrying about losing. There’s all these repercussions, so that first (non-UFC) fight was when I really started focusing on competing and performing to the best of my abilities,” Lindsey told MMAWeekly.com. “Win or lose, it doesn’t matter, as long as you perform, that’s what’s important.

“I’m learning and coming into my own in terms of how I need to fight and with the mental aspect. When that’s right, everything’s right. If you can perform how you do in the gym in the cage, then that’s all you really can ask for, and that’s what I’ve been working on the past couple fights.”

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Originally, Lindsey’s next bout was to be a title match, but due to multiple opponent changes, is now going to be a rematch from the only bout he has lost since leaving the UFC. While on one hand he’s disappointed by all the changes, the chance to get back a loss excites him.

“I would like to say it doesn’t and I just keep doing my thing – I’m training hard regardless – but when it changes to another guy, you just kind of get disappointed,” said Lindsey. “And then it happens again, and then it happens again, you’re just like, whatever.

“I am really excited – I cannot emphasize this more – to get a chance to get this W back. I would fight every single guy I’ve ever lost to for free. It’s not for a belt anymore, but I don’t care, I just want to get the W back.”

On Friday in Topeka, Kan., Lindsey (11-4) will rematch Dakota Cochrane (26-10) in the main event of Victory FC 55 in a welterweight main event on UFC Fight Pass.

“In the first fight, I was beating him up until that last 30 seconds when he caught me in that guillotine,” Lindsey said of Cochrane. “He’s a dangerous guy. He’s strong, he’s explosive, he’s obviously game and doesn’t quit, but every fight is different.

“We both kind of know what we’re about, and I feel like I’ve got his number. I know exactly what I need to do to beat his style. For me, it’s just about doing the right things and not making any mistakes, and I’ll get the W pretty easy.”

For Lindsey the goal for 2017 is simple: return to the upper echelon of MMA and prove his first go around was not representative of the fighter he can be.

“I want to get back in the UFC,” said Lindsey. “I think I’m peaking and I’m training well, my fire’s there, I’m super-motivated and I want to get in there as soon as possible and just start wrecking guys. That’s the goal.

“I want to get this W, do whatever I need to do to get back into the UFC, and just start performing. I want to prove to everyone else that I can compete at that level. I know I can. I just need the opportunity.”

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